Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-03-20-Speech-4-010"
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"en.20030320.2.4-010"2
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".
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, honourable Members, I know that feelings are running high today and I realise how important the initiatives taken by the European Parliament over recent weeks were, as we all tried to help bring about a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the crisis in Iraq. Feelings are running high because, when diplomacy ends and war begins, it is a sad, disappointing moment.
A third important problem is the stability of the region as a whole. A war can destabilise and cause problems for neighbouring countries, one of which, Turkey, is a candidate country of the European Union. We had the opportunity at the European Parliament in Strasbourg a few days ago to debate the Kurdish question and the fear that this crisis has perhaps opened up another front in the war. At the same time, however, we need to consider what the repercussions of this war will be, what repercussions it will have on Turkey itself, because we need to safeguard its progress towards Europe and its reform movement.
Another important consideration for the region, for stability in the Middle East, is the Middle East problem and the peace process itself. As far as this process is concerned, the European Union is unanimously behind the so-called roadmap, which it wants not just published but implemented as quickly as possible. Whatever happens in Iraq, we need to highlight the supremely important role of the United Nations in the overall process. Luckily, there is unanimity here too. Even if we were unable recently to keep the UN at the forefront, let us try and do so from now on and ensure that the UN has the standing it deserves.
I think that, within this, we shall face another two important issues. First, trans-Atlantic relations, relations between the European Union and the United States. As we all know, trans-Atlantic relations have been through – is still going through – a serious crisis. Of that there can be no doubt. It is therefore time for an honest discussion of today’s real problems and challenges, an honest discussion of how we intend to deal with major issues, from weapons of mass destruction to the environment, poverty and inequality; now is the time for honest dialogue with the United States, a dialogue which, we hope, will help us find a way of really cooperating on security, on promoting real peace and on real global governance based on the common values of the European Union, values which we share in the European Union, values which underpin the Community in which we live.
The fact that we have been cooperating very closely with the Arab world over recent weeks is also extremely important. This cooperation, Mr President, honourable Members, has shown that the conflict in Iraq is not and must not be a cultural war or conflict. On the contrary, we must strengthen these ties with the Arab and Muslim world. We need an in-depth cultural dialogue here, a cultural dialogue which will pinpoint the problems of mankind for which we are jointly responsible and allow us, within this joint responsibility, to discuss the best ways of dealing with these issues and the common values which will guide us as we do so.
I should like to say here that I have a feeling, perhaps a ray of optimism on this dark and difficult day, that it is the will of the Member States and, I believe, of our citizens, that the crisis in Iraq – which has given rise to so much discussion and will surely continue to do so over coming weeks and months, perhaps even years – should now be used as a springboard by the European Union for drawing important conclusions about its own institutions, about our role, about the challenges we face and about how we can deal with this situation more effectively. All I can say is that this is the feeling I had, that this is the will which was expressed during discussions at the External Affairs Council the other day. A feeling that, even though we are of course bitter and disappointed about our failure to agree on Iraq, we should not let this divide us and we should focus on where we can take unified action by analysing these problems and moving on.
I am sure that this message, this objective will be supported by the European Parliament, which has fought long and hard for the common foreign policy, a stronger European presence on the international stage and the integration of the European Union, and which will play a decisive role here. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much, I look forward to receiving your comments.
As the President said, the Iraqi crisis has been the cause of numerous heated debates within our House, within the international community and within the UN. We have been working on a common basis, towards a common objective, as expressed on at least two different occasions, at the External Relations Council and later, at summit level: the objective of disarmament and full compliance with UN resolutions and, at the same time, the need to exhaust all diplomatic efforts before resorting to violence.
The Greek Presidency supported this objective; we took initiatives and we met all our permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council on numerous occasions. We also had several meetings with the leaders of the United States, Kofi Annan and the inspectors. Both the presidency and other members of the Council acting on our behalf made numerous trips to the Arab countries in the Middle East, where we and Mr Chris Patten, who travelled with us, met the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Arab states and the leaders of the Arab League in Sharm el Sheik. We organised an important initiative to send a specific message to Iraq on behalf of the Arab League which got started but unfortunately petered out, and discussions at home about where we go from here, what we do next and how we deal with this crisis were also fraught with difficulty.
This is not the time to go into details, nor is it perhaps the time to apportion blame as to which opportunities the international community took advantage of and which it did not as it tried to foster a peaceful solution to this conflict. However, what I would say is that we had a heated debate which will have important results and serious repercussions on future developments. We need to examine the implications of this crisis within the European Union and the international community and the UN and decide how to tackle them.
I should like to point out that the stands taken by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs when they met the other day highlighted these disagreements, these differing perceptions as to what constitutes a just war. Differing opinions were expressed about the expediency of intervention, about the repercussions of intervening or not intervening and about stability in the region. And yet, within these disagreements the President spoke of – and why try and hide the fact, they are a matter of public record – the presidency, all of us, especially the Council and the European Parliament, now need to decide where we go from here. Because the fact of the matter is that hostilities have now begun.
One of our prime considerations as we decide what to do next, as Mr Cox quite rightly pointed out, is that the crisis should be used as a springboard for serious thought. That is what both we and the overwhelming majority of European Union citizens want; serious thought about institutional reform and the basic political will to unite behind a single foreign policy, a European Union foreign policy which speaks with a united, effective voice on international affairs, at international level, on the international stage.
Secondly, we need to examine the problems the Gulf will face in the immediate future, problems such as a possible humanitarian crisis. To paraphrase Κofi Annan at the Security Council yesterday, the international community will perhaps finally unite around the fate of the Iraqi people. In truth, at the meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs, at the Council meeting the other day, which was an informal but nonetheless important session, a number of approaches were proposed which will need to be examined and which will guide us as we decide where we go from here.
First of all, we have to address the huge humanitarian problems which the war in Iraq will create, especially its repercussions on neighbouring countries and the problems which the European Union itself may face from a wave of refugees.
A second important consideration is the need to secure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq."@en1
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